About us

Founded in 2003, Russo Surfcamp grew from our love for surfing and living close to nature.
Since then, we’ve lived as one big family, constantly evolving, creating, and sharing our passion for this unique lifestyle.

RUSSO - SURCAMP FOUNDER

Rui Russo is the founder of Russo Surfcamp. Rui and his friends are true surf pioneers who began shaping and developing the surfing culture in Portugal more than 30 years ago. His nickname “Russo” came from spending so many years in the salty ocean that his hair turned unusually blond for a Portuguese.

Rui is from Portimão, but he fell in love with Vale Figueiras beach as a boy while fishing there with his father. When he started surfing, he spent years living in a caravan in the area — surfing, working, and preparing himself for something bigger. In 2003, he opened the surf camp, which is now one of the oldest on the southwest coast of Portugal.

Active, positive, and full of humor, Rui is often the one preparing breakfast and our famous Saturday night BBQs. He is passionate about running the surf camp, while still making time to enjoy surfing, fishing, and traveling.

SURF TEAM

Have you ever been coached by a live Surf Champion?
Egor is our wave boss — a two-time Russian National Champion who has been training in the Algarve, Portugal since childhood. He has worked with professional surfers around the world and competed in the ISA World Surfing Championships. His professional profile can be found on the World Surf League (WSL).

Despite his professional career, Egor is, above all, an inspiring and dedicated coach. He motivates his students, pushes their limits, and is always attentive in the water. With a great sense of humor and an easygoing personality, he makes every session both fun and rewarding. Egor constantly trains with different coaches around the world, gaining new techniques, insights, and valuable tips that he brings into his lessons.

Egor started surfing at the age of 10 and was one of the very first guests at our summer Teenage Surf Camps, which we organized back in 2009.

Raphael is a passionate surfer with over 10 years of experience and a deep connection to the ocean that eventually led him to Portugal. In 2018, he earned his ISA (International Surfing Association) certification and spent two years coaching in Porto, helping surfers of all levels build confidence, refine their technique, and fall in love with the sport.

Since 2021, Raphael has been a valued member of the Russo Surfcamp team, sharing his knowledge, energy, and enthusiasm both in and out of the water. His travels across South and Central America have taken him to some of the world’s most memorable waves, shaping his style and enriching his approach to coaching.

When he’s not surfing, Raphael enjoys spending time in nature, seeking new adventures and meaningful moments by the sea — always bringing that same spirit of curiosity and stoke to the people he meets.

Lauren is our warm and friendly Yoga instructor, she certified with RYT 500 Yoga Alliance.

"My crush on yoga began over half my lifetime ago (24 years I have been practicing and teaching for 16). I travel the world to study and learn from great teachers. From Hawaii, California, London, Europe to India. I specialize in Surf Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Therapeutic, Yin Yoga, Prenatal and SUP yoga, Surf Flow Yoga.

Every class is a thoughtfully handcrafted collection of asanas (postures). Connecting the body with the breath in a creative flow. All levels are oh so very welcome."

Tonya is the manager of the surf camp and your host. She speaks Russian, Portuguese and English and makes great photos of you surfing!

Madara is our Latvian chica and our most trustful helper at the Surf Resort. She is a very creative artist and she does henna paintings, wood craft and some jewelry. Our bartender Maria is Spanish and she always brings that happy vibe once she is there. She is a professional jeweler and sells her work all over the Algarve coast.

Our chef Tininha is another family member we cannot not mention! Tininha is Russo’s mom, but we call her our grammy. She cooks for our guests as if for her own family, always tasty, high-quality, with that special grandmotherly touch.

We are happy to welcome all of you guys here to experience this incredible way of living!

All of us are surfers. Yes, of course! But we also love and practice many other activities besides surfing. These activities complement surfing such as yoga, skating, swimming and running. The others just feel good to do in the open air such as fishing, biking or volley at the beach. Our guys are skilled fishermen, so prepare for the fresh fish for dinners! We also organize the extra activities for the guests.

We do believe that physical activities are important for physical health and for the state of mind and soul, No kidding. That's why practicing surfing for us is the top priority. It’s the sport that brings you closest to nature. No waves - no game, and the Ocean is the Big Boss that makes all the rules.

Respecting the Nature is an essential. We take care of cleaning the beach and organizing a Beach Cleaning Activity for the young generation during the Nomad Algarve Summer Teen camps. Year by year we improve with recycling and taking care of waste.

We have our small farm and biological garden that all of us take care of. We grow some fruits and veggies that time to time we bring to the Resort kitchen for our guests to try.

At the end it is all about Having a Good Time! To meet new people, to have a laugh, to joke and prank each other, to party, to make new friends, to play some music together and make some noise that's all the key ingredients for a Happy Living!